Have bark - will travel: Cypress couple solves annoying dog habits

CYNTHIA CALVERT

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, May 11, 2004

I think we have all arrived at a front door, rung the bell and heard the rapid, intense bark of a dog. We can hear the frantic barking, barking, barking and occasionally, see a dog glaring through a nearby window as he strains to see who dares knock on his door. Some dogs go further, scratching and clawing the door frame. If the door opens, the dog will jump up on the guest, all the while pawing and barking. This behavior not only intimidates the guest but often drives the homeowner nuts. They love little Daisy or Jake but they rue their behavior.

Ah to the rescue come Bob and Jeanne Williams of Cypress, Texas. The Williams are Bark Busters and promise to give you control of your dog with one in-home session.

You don't even have to load up Rosie or Belle in the car and drive to a trainer nor do you have pay for expensive boarding in a kennel while they are being trained. "Any dog; any age; any issue," says Bob about his canine clients and "We come to you."

Bark Busters deals with all sorts of obedience issues like pulling on the leash, digging holes in the yard, jumping up on visitors, nipping at heels or chewing on dad's favorite shoes. Williams and his wife spent three weeks in Denver, being trained at the Bark Busters national headquarters where they learned what makes dogs tick.

"Dogs are pack animals and every dog thinks he is the leader," Williams explained to me recently. When you bring a dog into your home, the residents there, including other animals, becomes his pack and he immediately assumes the leadership role. But you, the human, has another idea, like say, you are the master.

All the begging for attention behaviors, like housebreaking accidents, stealing food from counters or tables or playing too roughly, are attempts by the dog to be in control of his pack.

Williams is a recent Bark Buster; he worked for Shell Oil after 27 years until he was "right sized" as he calls his voluntary retirement and found himself searching for a job. He took his time, wanting to find something he loved. Just listening to him talk about Bark Busters, I'd say he has found it.

"I love what I do. It is just great helping people."

For a fee, the Williams will come to your home; they even work on nights and weekend, and spend a few hours working with you and Beau or Luna.

"We teach owners how to train their dogs in less than three hours. We like to work at the dog's home; they are less stressed and learn best there.

"We communicate to the dog in the way he understands best until he learns he is not the pack leader. Lots of dogs don't have the leadership skills, the temperament, to be in control so you see lots of anxiety in them. They pace around the house and yard nervously or bark or chew."

Bark Busters began in 1989 Australia by a woman named Sylvia Wilson, a one-time employee of the Royal Australian SPCA. Her methods resulted in a barkless kennel and visitors were amazed at the control she had over the dogs. She and her husband founded the business which has spread to several countries.

One client of Williams hired him because their dog would run ahead of them on the stairs and nip at their heels. They were afraid they would trip and fall. Williams arrived and with the Bark Busters training method, gave the owner the tools to get in control. The results were immediate!

What the Bark Busters method does, Williams says, is a form of passive dominance. An example of passive dominance is when the dog comes over and pushes your hand, asking for a pet. Or when he runs to the door and we jump up to let him out. He's been training us to do what he wants. Put we turn that on them. To be ignored is the highest form of dominance in the canine mind. I often tell my wife I am going outside to ignore Paris (their dog). You don't do this to deny love, but to control the dog on your terms. Once he walks away, I call him over and lavish the love. Our goal is voice control, Williams says.

One dog, Einstein, was really "nuts at the front door." According to Williams, this dog was neurotic. "If the lady tried to be alone, to take a nap, the dog would leave a deposit outside the door. The dog insisted on rubbing against her leg but not her bare skin. They got into this weird thing with her having to put a sheet over her leg while she watched TV to please the dog. We got that stopped," Williams says. Two days after Bark Busters arrived, Einstein had his first real test when the door bell rang. He made a small "Peep," hopped on the first step of the stairs, and watched her open the door. When she "freed" him, he walked over, took a sniff and walked away. Alright Einstein!

On a more serious note, Sunday is the first day of National Dog Bite Prevention Week (at last, something on which we can all agree). Williams spends part of most weekdays visiting day care centers talking about dog bite prevention. Dogs bite nearly 5 million people each year and 70 percent of those are children under the age of 12. Even worse, nearly half were bitten by their own family dog. 20 people die each year from dog bites! Williams shows a video that stars Dally the Dalmatian. Dally says to all the little children that dogs bite from fear or from aggression. Children and adults should learn not to challenge a dog by staring or entice him to chase you by running away. Dally makes other important points like: Don't tease a dog, pat a strange dog, and stay away while it's eating.

Williams has a whole dog and pony, well a dog and puppy show, which he is happy to share with child care facilities. He also offers one mini training session, free of charge, to families in the northwest Houston area. Bark Busters will travel throughout the Houston area upon arrangement. The gold service, which is training for the life of the dog, costs a mere $375. A one-year training guarantee is $295. Most puppies cost more than that. I don't want to give away his secrets but I can tell you that it is totally non-physical, easy and loving. And what a relief to be free to enjoy your beloved Snickers or Scruffy - without all those annoying behaviors!

Williams says that after five weeks of working a few minutes each day with your dog, the new behavior sticks. You will have a different dog in the same skin. And that's not barking up the wrong tree!

Bob and Jeanne Williams own Bark Busters of Northwest Houston and may be reached by calling 281-256-0077 or by email at houstonnorthwest@barkbusters.com You can also visit the Web site at www.barkbusters.com